IFMR Plans Motorcycle Rides to New Orleans to raise funds for POLIO PLUS

   The International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians (IFMR) recently announced plans for motorcycle rides to the Rotary International convention in New Orleans from several different parts of the country to help raise funds for POLIO PLUS, Rotary’s continuing effort to stamp out polio everywhere in the world. The funds raised will help complete the funds required to match a $200 million grant to POLIO PLUS from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Once again IFMR will be encouraging its members and other Rotary motorcyclists to ride to the convention; but this time IFMR is making a special effort to organize rides and raise awareness to promote contributions to Rotary’s POLIO PLUS
campaign. It’s also asking riders to pledge amounts per mile for their ride to New Orleans and also raise additional pledges from their local clubs, club members, and friends, all payable to the Rotary Foundation POLIO PLUS fund.

   Four different ride groups – funneling riders from the west and northwest, from the central region, and from the east and northeast – have been set in motion. From Sacramento, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, and Albany, all coming together in Baton Rouge on May 19 for a grand entrance into New Orleans on May 20.

Imagine the impact of all four groups of IFMR motorcyclists arriving in New Orleans at the same time, ready to deliver their checks and pledges to the Rotary Foundation’s POLIO PLUS effort.

   IFMR’s plans for the POLIO PLUS rides are being closely coordinated with Rotary International leaders, Rotary Foundation trustees, and the 2011 Rotary Convention Promotion Committee, all of whom have offered their strong encouragement and support to help make this IFMR effort for POLIO PLUS a big success.

   As information about the rides has begun to reach other IFMR chapters in  other countries, we’ve begun to receive queries about the routes and about rental bikes for international riders who might want to join one of the rides, both to show their support for POLIO PLUS and for the opportunity to see new parts of the US with other IFMR members. What a great opportunity for fellowship among international Rotary motorcycling friends!

   All riders will be encouraged to pledge or raise as much as possible, aiming for an average $1/mile to New Orleans in pledges for every rider. But no one will be excluded. Clubs along the way will also be encouraged to send riders, to send pledges, and to arrange ‘meet and greet’ events with riders passing thru their area enroute to New Orleans. Whether or not you can make the ride yourself, you can still help by raising funds and pledges in your club, your community, and your Rotary district. You can also help by organizing a group of riders from your area to meet and ride with the group on to New Orleans, or just for a few hours or miles, or just for a brief ‘meet & greet”.

Help spread the word and join in the ride!

You’ll hear and read more about it here as details are worked out. Meanwhile, mark your calendar, spread the word, and plan to ride to New Orleans. Contact the Ride Captains shown below to let them know of your interest and to arrange rendezvous points enroute.

ALBANY, NY -- May 15-20
                Bob Shriner (rshriner@aol.com)
                Charlie Foote (bcfoot@aol.com)
                Bill Smith (smithatlg@aol.com)

CHICAGO/EVANSTON -- May 17-20 
                David.Phelps@EffectusLLC.com
                Bob Mutchler (tunerman1@aol.com)

SACRAMENTO -- May 14-20
               Doug Holck (holckster@aol.com)
               Helmut Sommer (hgsommer@yahoo.com)

SEATTLE -- May 13-20
               Marc Baker (Mqbhdrotary@gmail.com)
               Otto Rieve (ottorieve@telus.net)

MIAMI, FL  -- May 17-20 (Added Route)
               Allen Leggett (alsu@sbcglobal.net)
               Earl Halle (ebhalle@aol.com)